The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Explorer heads north to explain huge desert journey
An Oman-based explorer is coming to a wintry Inverness to detail his experiences crossing the longest stretch of sand desert on earth.
Mark Evans MBE will be discussing his recreation of the first recorded crossing of the Rub’ al Khali, better known as the Empty Quarter, in 1931.
The talk is being run as part of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society’s (RSGS) Inspiring People Programme.
Mr Evans certainly fits that description after crossing the desert in 49 days alongside Mohammed Al Zadjaliand, from Oman, and Amur Al Wahaibi, a Bedouin from Bidiya.
No mean feat in such a time when you consider the Empty Quarter occupies an area the size of France, Germany and Spain.
It is also one of earth’s most inhospitable environments: just 33mm of annual rain and temperature extremes of below 0C in winter to above 50C in summer.
On top of the weather there are substantial geographical obstacles to overcome like the enormous shifting sand dunes, some 300m high, not to mention quicksands.
To complete the journey means trekking from Salalah in Oman through Saudi Arabia to Doha in Qatar, a distance of 1,600km on foot and by camel.
So savage are the conditions that even the Bedouin have now chosen to move to the edge of the desert nearer to roads built to access oil and gas fields.
The expedition set off on December 10 and throughout the trip Mr Evans kept a blog about the distances travelled, local temperatures and experiences on the way.
Throughout the trip he referred to the works of the first recorded foreigner to cross the Empty Quarter; Betram Thomas in 1931 and to that of Wilfred Thesiger who did it in 1945.
On Christmas day he enjoyed a meal of cold baked beans just like Thomas did in 1931 but woke up soaked because of overnight dew coming down.
Mr Evans wrote: “with a lovely moonrise over the dunes just after the sun set in the west, and with the winds shifting to the south, a warm night ensued.”
By New Year’s day the team had covered 350km with 617km to go before reaching Doha: “now just over a third of the way through our journey.”
He also discusses the physical and psychological challenges of such a gruelling journey and how the team would get together for regular selfassessments.
However, they managed to battle through to Doha on January 27, having been escorted across the busy Doha to Salwa highway by the police the day before.
At the conclusion of his epic travels Mark Evans wrote: “My great admiration goes to my two Omani companions.”
He described them as: “The best expedition companions one could wish for, and together we have walked, or ridden, for 1,300km and 49 days across the biggest sand desert on earth.”
Concerning the less dangerous adventure to the Highland Council’s main auditorium, he said: “I am really looking forward to delivering this talk in Scotland.”
Chairman of the RSGS local group, Robert Preece, said: “Journeying the length of the Culbin Sands, between Nairn and Forres, will fade into insignificance after hearing about the 49 days that Mark took to cross the Empty Quarter of Arabia.”